FRESH ROUND OF UN-BACKED DARFUR PEACE TALKS TO START NEXT MONTH

United Nations-backed mediation talks aimed at resolving the long-running conflict in Darfur between the Sudanese Government and the region's armed movements will resume late next month, it was announced today.

The talks will not start until the last week of October, given the time needed for the many armed movements to complete discussions on their possible unification for the peace process, according to a communiqué issued by the joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force in Darfur (known as UNAMID).

Today's communiqué follows consultations in Doha, between Djibril Bassolé, the AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur, and Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Qatar, which has been sponsoring the mediation efforts.

Mr. Bassolé and Mr. Al-Mahmoud have invited the armed movements to take part in a capacity-building workshop in Doha in early October so they can discuss issues related to the peace process, including how to improve security for Darfur's inhabitants and how to boost socio-economic development in the region.

Mr. Bassolé and Mr. Al-Mahmoud have also agreed to organize a civil society forum in Doha before the start of final peace talks to allow the many Darfurian communities to discuss peace and reconciliation efforts.

Fighting has raged across the western Sudanese region since 2003, pitting the rebel movements against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen. All sides stand accused of human rights abuses and an estimated 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur over the past six years and another 2.7 million people forced to leave their homes.

The efforts of mediators have been hampered by the fragmentation of the rebel movements into many different, smaller groups, making it harder for them to adopt a unified position during any negotiations.

In February, representatives of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) signed the Doha Goodwill Agreement with the Sudanese Government in an initial step designed to build momentum towards an enduring peace pact.

Today Mr. Bassolé and Mr. Al-Mahmoud welcomed recent initiatives in Libya and by the United States envoy, General Scott Gration, to try to unify the armed movements, and voiced hope that they would lead to greater cohesion among the rebels.

Meanwhile, the outgoing head of UNAMID has urged all Darfurians to come together to resolve the conflict in their region.

In an open letter to the people of Darfur, Rodolphe Adada, who is stepping down as the AU-UN Joint Special Representative, said he remained convinced that "our collective efforts will bear fruit in the near future and the situation in Darfur will gradually evolve from armed conflict to cessation of hostilities to achievement of peace and finally reach the realm of sustainable development."

JOINT UN-AFRICAN UNION MISSION CONDEMNS NORTH DARFUR FIGHTING

JOINT UN-AFRICAN UNION MISSION CONDEMNS NORTH DARFUR FIGHTING
New York, May 25 2009 2:00PM
The hybrid African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has condemned heavy fighting in and around the town of Umm Baru which left over 50 people injured and forced hundreds to flee their homes.

According to a news release issued by the Mission, Sudanese Government forces clashed with armed elements of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) for several hours yesterday in the town, which is located about 100 kilometres from the Chadian border in the far west of North Darfur state.

Explosions were also reported in the area after Government planes flew overhead last night, the Mission added.

UNAMID peacekeepers based at a camp near Umm Baru report that at least 53 people have been seriously injured and need evacuation for further medical treatment. The casualties include civilians, Government soldiers and JEM members.

About 350 civilians -- mainly women, children and the elderly -- and 100 unarmed Sudanese soldiers and members of the Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minnawi (SLA/MM), a pro-Government faction, are currently taking refuge near the UNAMID camp.

The Mission stressed that urgent humanitarian aid, particularly food, water, medical supplies and tents, is needed to help civilians displaced by the fighting. UNAMID has treated some of the wounded, and is on standby to evacuate those needing further medical care.

UNAMID chief Rodolphe Adada condemned yesterday's fighting, and urged all parties to the Darfur conflict to seek a peaceful resolution to their differences.

Yesterday's clashes follow an incident earlier this month in which JEM armed elements attacked Sudanese Government forces based near the town of Kornoi, located between Umm Baru and the Chadian border.

An estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes in more than five years of fighting in Darfur, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.

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AFRICAN UNION-UN ENVOY AND SUDANESE OFFICIAL DISCUSS RECENT FIGHTING IN DARFUR

AFRICAN UNION-UN ENVOY AND SUDANESE OFFICIAL DISCUSS RECENT FIGHTING IN DARFUR
New York, May 19 2009 5:00PM
The joint African Union-United Nations envoy to Darfur met with a senior Sudanese official today to discuss recent fighting in the strife-torn region and rising tensions between Sudan and Chad, a spokesperson for the world body said.

Marie Okabe told reporters in New York that the AU-UN Joint Special Representative, Rodolphe Adada, met with Minni Minawi, a former rebel who is now the Senior Assistant to the Sudanese President.

"They discussed the latest developments in Darfur, particularly the recent fighting between the Minawi faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA/MM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). They also discussed rising tensions between Chad and Sudan," Ms. Okabe said.

Fighting between the two groups flared up some ten days ago in the north Darfur town of Umm Baru. Mr. Adada said the AU-UN peacekeeping mission, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID, had taken 26 people injured in the fighting to the North Darfur capital of El Fasher for treatment at a military hospital.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday voiced his concern at recent violence and tensions in the border area between Chad and Sudan and called on all parties to cease fighting.

"He underscores that there is no military solution to the situation in the sub-region and urges the Governments of Chad and Sudan to refrain from any act that may lead to a further escalation of tensions," his spokesperson said in a statement.

Last week Mr. Adada met with the Under-Secretary of the Sudanese Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mutrif Siddiq, and Presidential Adviser, Mustafa Osman Ismail, during separate meetings in Khartoum.

In a briefing to the Security Council in April, Mr. Adada estimated that around 2,000 civilians have been in killed in Darfur since UNAMID deployed last year.

Some 15 peacekeepers have also lost their lives since the Security Council established UNAMID to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes in more than five years of fighting, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.

Ms. Okabe said that in the past 24 hours, the military component of UNAMID conducted 72 confidence-building patrols, escorts, night patrols and investigative patrols in and around villages and camps for internally displaced persons.
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DARFUR: AFTER LAST MONTH’S FLARE-UPS, RELATIVE CALM RETURNS, UN-AFRICAN MISSION SAYS

DARFUR: AFTER LAST MONTH'S FLARE-UPS, RELATIVE CALM RETURNS, UN-AFRICAN MISSION SAYS
New York, Feb 26 2009 6:00PM

The joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force Darfur (UNAMID) today reported that relative calm had returned to the war-ravaged western region of the Sudan although concern remained over continuing violence in some areas.

UNAMID noted that there had been reports of banditry in North Darfur, the state that recently witnessed an influx of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to its camps due to a fresh outburst of violence in South Darfur.

In South Darfur, where heavy fighting broke out last month between Government troops, other armed groups and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), locals have told UNAMID that armed militiamen continue to attack and harass civilians.

For its part, UNAMID said, its blue helmets continue to intensify their routine patrols as well as their investigations, their escort functions and their confidence-building measures throughout the area.

The hybrid force was set up by the Security Council to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million have been forced from their homes since fighting erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.

One year on from transferring the task of suppressing the violence to UNAMID from the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS), some 12,753 blue helmets are now in place across the region, a little more than 60 per cent of the 19,555 military personnel authorized by the Security Council.
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NORTH DARFUR CAMP HOSTING OVER 15,000 PEOPLE UPROOTED BY RECENT CLASHES – UN

NORTH DARFUR CAMP HOSTING OVER 15,000 PEOPLE UPROOTED BY RECENT CLASHES – UN
New York, Feb 25 2009 4:00PM

Over 15,000 people have sought safety in the Zam Zam camp in North Darfur after fleeing the latest outburst of violence in the South Darfur region of Sudan, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported today.

OCHA is concerned that with more people arriving each day, the large influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is putting a strain on the provision of water to camp residents.

The fighting which broke out last month around Muhajeria and Shearia in South Darfur between Government troops and other armed groups against the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) exposed tens of thousands of civilians to violence.

Earlier this month, the two sides signed an agreement of "goodwill and confidence-building," which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed as a "constructive step" in the ongoing efforts to negotiate a peaceful conclusion to their conflict.

Meanwhile, the joint African Union-UN peacekeeping mission to Darfur, known as UNAMID, reported that an additional 150 Senegalese peacekeepers arrived today in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur and the mission's headquarters, bringing the total to 834 in the Senegalese infantry battalion.

The main duties of the battalion, which is based in El Geneina, West Darfur, include conducting escorts for humanitarian convoys, and conducting patrols to enhance security for civilians in the area and encourage confidence within the local population.

One year after taking on the task of suppressing the violence, UNAMID has some 12,753 blue helmets – of the 19,555 authorized by the Security Council – across Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million have been forced from their homes since fighting erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.
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DARFUR: THOUSANDS FLEE TO AFRICAN UNION-UN PEACEKEEPERS BASE FOR SAFETY

DARFUR: THOUSANDS FLEE TO AFRICAN UNION-UN PEACEKEEPERS BASE FOR SAFETY
New York, Feb 22 2009 2:00PM
Aerial bombardments over the South Darfur town of Muhajeria, the scene of recent violent clashes between Sudanese Government forces and a rebel militia, have forced thousands to a United Nations peacekeepers base in search of safety, the joint African Union-UN mission to the region (UNAMID) reported today.

UNAMID estimated that about 5,000 people have fled to its base in search of safety for a second time since fighting broke out in the middle of last month between the Government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels, exposing tens of thousands of civilians to the deadly violence.

Earlier this week, the Deputy Governor of South Darfur gave assurances that the UN would receive continued access to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to around 100,000 people caught up in the latest outburst of hostilities on Sudan's western flank.

At the same time, there w
as further hope for stability in the region when Government and JEM representatives met on Tuesday for the first time in two years to sign the "Agreement of Good Will and Confidence Building for the Settlement of the Problem in Darfur."

The hybrid AU-UN peacekeeping force also reported that its police unit will conduct the first night patrols at a new community policing centre (CPC) constructed between two large camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) near El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

The move, which starts tonight, means that the interim CPC will provide continuous 24-hour operations as part of UNAMID's efforts to enhance its protection of the tens of thousands of residents taking shelter at the Abu Shouk and El Salaam camps for IDPs.

A delegation of IDPs from El Salaam camp has also thanked UNAMID Police for its help in securing the recent release of several IDPs from detention by Sudanese national intelligence officers.

Construction will start within the next t
wo weeks on another interim CPC -- this time near Zamzam, a separate IDP camp close to El Fasher, according to UNAMID.
Some 300,000 people are estimated to have been killed, either through direct combat or as a result of disease, malnutrition or reduced life expectancy, and more than 2.7 million others have been forced from their homes since the conflict in Darfur, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militia, began in 2003.
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For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news